Creating eggcellent memories

Tuesday

Apr 15, 2014 at 2:00 PMApr 15, 2014 at 2:00 PM

By Kathryn RossThe SpectatorWELLSVILLE — On Saturday, two women sat around a table at the hilltop home of Fran Zapar practicing an ancient tradition — Pysanky.While in recent weeks the Ukraine has been making headlines with its political strife, to many, when they hear "Ukraine," they entertain far gentler thoughts of intricately designed and colorful Easter eggs created in the ancient tradition of Pysanky or the art of “writing” on Easter eggs.Pysanky artists aren’t writing in words, they are using symbols – stars, dots, lines and geometric patterns and using special colors — red, yellow, black and the white of the egg. Pysanky designs often feature pussy willows as a religious symbol for palm fronds, deer and birds.Zapar explains, “In the old country, in the olden days, boys and girls made these eggs as special gifts for each other, so some of the designs are very masculine or feminine. They are a symbol of life and made during the spring as a representation of rebirth.”The decorated eggs are not just seasonal bangles, they become family heirlooms, decorating each new year’s Easter basket with colorful memories.Zapar has taught over 50 people including her own children in the Pysanky tradition and has made dozens of the colorful eggs herself. Many she gives away and others she keeps.“My daughter really liked to do lines and geometric shapes,” Zapar said.Pysanky eggs have such a long life because raw eggs are used in the process and have traditionally been used for decorative purposes and are not meant for eating. Boiling the eggs can cause a small amount of water to seep under the shell and, within a few weeks, can damage the design and rot. Raw eggs will keep indefinitely, if the shell is in good condition.“The egg yolk inside the egg will dry in anywhere from two to 10 years,” Zapar said. Zapar has been practicing the art of Pysanky for decades. She learned it from her mother-in-law, a Ukrainian, and Zapar, being her oldest daughter-in-law is carrying on the family tradition. Throughout the years, during the Lenten season, she has often conducted classes to teach this ancient art to others.“Back in our old home all the kids in the neighborhood would be at our house decorating eggs,” said Zapar.The Zapars, Fran and her husband Al, moved to this area from New Jersey several years ago and are best-known now for their involvement in Ridgewalk-Run and Race. One of the walks passes through their property on top of one of the hills near Alma Pond.This year, Zapar offered two Pysanky classes.Pysanky decorating involves the use of a kistka, a special pen which writes with bees wax. After creating a design on the egg in pencil, the artist goes over it, with the kistka, which is held perpendicular to the egg to cover the lines or symbols in wax. Experienced decorators often only use a pencil to divide the egg shell into sections.After the wax dries, the egg is placed in a dye bath for five to 10 minutes. When it is removed and dry, additional wax designs may be added. The method repeats using additional dyes until the design is completed. Once the design is complete and dried, all the wax is melted and gently wiped away. Afterwards, a protective, clear coat of varnish, shellac or art spray is applied to the decorated egg. It results in an art object which will last for years — reminding that special person of the miracle of spring and rebirth.

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